The Brits have LOST IT!

[cls12vg30]

After you've been patched up from trying to break in to Buckingham, try invading the Vatican - hell, how tough can the security there be, they wear bloomers

Hehe...I'm pretty sure the guards at the Vatican are Swiss, aren't they? They're called the Swiss Guards. I wouldn't mess with them.

 

[Checkman]

When we toured the Vatican the guide informed us that the Swiss Guard are still recruited from Switzerland. The ones on tourist patrol look to be armed with no more then a pike or Halbred. But considering that there are so many postings on this very forum (THR in general) about the dangers of a knife wielding assailant I would seriously reccommend you think twice before attacking somebody with that "ancient"weapon. A Halbred has a ferocious amount of cutting power. Take your arm right off. And if a bunch of Swiss farmers armed with pikes were able to defeat everything that was sent at them during the middle agesI'd like to see what would happen to somebody nowdays. I also observed that the cops assignned to the perimeter carried Beretta smgs and wore heavy body armor - the type designed for rifle bullets. I've also read that the Swiss Guard maintains a very real QRF with modern firearms (probably all made by Sig) and armored cars. I'm not a huge fan of the Europeans, but I also think that it's pretty foolish to underestimate them. They may not be real solid allies, but don't underestimate them.

 

[joe sixpack]

[Brit speak] Gor Blimey! What a load of cobblers. What do they want us
to do throw bangers and mash at them or get them down and
rub haggis in their eyes? [/Brit speak]


cheers,

 

[cls12vg30]

Well it's not generally accurate to lump all the Europeans together. The Swiss can be very tough when they need to be, but they tend to not get involved (except financially) in any conflicts anywhere.

The Germans should of course not be underestimated.

The French should not be over-estimated.

The Brits used to be solid, and their military forces still are, but as a nation, well, you read the article.

 

[Robert J McElwain]

Some folks have difficulty comprehending the first rule of a gun fight.

!. Have a LOADED gun.:banghead:

Bob

 

[Cosmoline]

Watch "Zulu Dawn" for another example of British thinking on issuing ammunition. The Zulu wariors are overruning the position and the stuffy quartermaster is still handing out one small box at a time.

 

[Cosmoline]

Americans shouldnt laugh at this situation - in Lebanon at the Marine barracks the sentries were NOT carrying ready to fire weaponry and over 200 Marines DIED because of that stupidity.If you are on guard duty in a bad situation you MUST be ready to use your weapon not ask the bad guys to wait just a moment while you load and chamber a round

That's true, but we at least learned from our mistakes. Any checkpoint runners these days are blown away six ways from Sunday.

 

[roo_ster]

Seems the besmirching of some officer's career by a ND in his unit is worse than a lowly gunner getting taken out of the action before the fight even starts.

Ain't that the truth. I had the misfortune of having just such an XO. Luckily my other two XOs were top-knothc, "follow into the gates of H*ll," kind of guys.

 

[Firethorn]

I think that the guard over the tomb of the unknown soldier should have a loaded weapon. Chrome and polish it all you want. Heck, polish the cartridges if you want. But it should be an operational, loaded weapon and the Soldier should have a reasonable ROE. I think police officer level engagement unless attempting to deface/damage tomb. Then the perp gets enemy status and military shoot on sight. I think that the ceremonial honor guard for the flag should be the same way. Chrome the 1917 all you want, but it should be operational and loaded.

My bases have at least always issued live ammo and firearms to auxillery guards, even during exercises. You see a person with a M16 or M9, and you can count on it having a loaded magazine (if not one in the chamber).

 

[nomadboi]

I'll have to remember this the next time someone talks about how bayonets are useless these days...

 

[Wingshooter]

Simmonsguns,

I have a good Haggis recipe, PM me if you want it.

 

[bytor94]

While stationed in Germany in the early and mid 80's, we had to pull guard duty on the family housing complexes when Bader-Meinhoff was active. As the Sergeant of the Guard (SOG) I was given 3 (three) 5.56 cartridges for a guard force of 16 troops.

To top it all off, I was required to maintain them with me in the ops room which was on the 9th floor of one of the apartment buildings. The guys on duty on the grounds didn't even have a d@%@ bayonet!!!!.

I can see it hasn't gotten any better over the years. :banghead:

 

[F4GIB]

Government provided "security" is mostly a matter of appearances.
Just ask the TSA. Looking good while lulling the sheeple.